Category Archives: Shoes

So I got this catalog in the mail yesterday and it really caught my eye. Not because of the clothes, per se, there is nothing at first glance that is particularly revolutionary between its pages, in fact you can find just about every style they offer in many catalogs and stores where you go to buy well-made casual menswear. What I liked about it was how it made me feel. It’s been a long time since I’ve picked up a catalog that made me actually want to peruse it.

It is a subtle but definite step into the direction of making flannel, khaki’s, Chukka boots and leather jackets a little more modern, yet keeping it rugged.

There is a sense of whimsy about it and the clothes really fit the brand. The whole of it evokes camping or being in the woods in the winter. Or even yet, being a well dressed-down hipster.

In looking on the website, because I honestly thought this was a spin-off company from a larger retailer trying to appeal to a hipper audience, I didn’t find much that made it personal to the founder Matt Cooper. But the designs are true to his design muse.

Like the name insinuates, he likes polished carbon and rough cobalt. Matt’s intention is to “design unique details into the clothing that will enhance your individual style”.

The quality of their product looks good overall and they do a fine job of offering a nice variety of categories, though very curated.

I really love shoes. I really do. I think if I could only pick one thing in fashion to splurge on it would be shoes and Carmina Shoemaker has some of the most beautiful and finely crafted shoes on the planet.

This brand was started by Matias Pujadas in a small workshop in Inca, Majorca in 1866.

Many generations later…

Rubi Cordavan

…and after a downturn in the market for luxury shoes in 1997 (what were they thinking?) Carmina Shoemaker was born.

Llubi

Created by Matais great-great grandson Jose Albaldejo and family, they decided to…

Women’s Oscaria Last

…provide some of best hand-crafted shoes to the world. And I must say, they have definitely succeeded in their mission.

I mean, just look at how beautiful these shoes and boots are.

Rain Snuff Swede

And the styles are also incredibly timeless. Not an easy “feat” to pull off, (yeah, I did!)

And yet they are also very sexy.

Women’s wingtips and tassels

And what I really love about this company is the fact that they also do gorgeous women’s shoes…

…that are inspired by their masculine counterparts.

I have such a big foot I can wear men’s or women’s shoes, but for the Dandi’s out there with smaller feet (but a bigger budget because these shoes start in the $400 range) this is definitely an investment well made.

Okay, maybe it’s not yet here and now but it is coming. I mean Labor Day is tomorrow or if you are just waking up and reading this, today. And no you don’t have to put away your whites (shoes or clothes) if you don’t want to but I’m certainly gearing up for wearing something besides shorts and a t-shirt so here are some of my picks for your next shopping spree, as well as some style ideas. Enjoy!

I love the new looks for spring and the ones that are on the horizon for FW13/14. I got to thinking that I would just do my own little personal tearsheet/lookbook and share it with you all as I come upon looks I love and ways of wearing it that will help the dapper dandi in all of us.

I probably won’t write very much on these, so that I can visit you all more often.

Let these pics be your guide to what’s going on in the fashion streets and how trendy dandi’s are wearing it. Then make up your own way of presenting it. That’s what makes fashion so much fun. So enjoy and I hope to see you back here more real soon!

And don’t forget to take into account any new activities that you want to start up or have over the winter. Like these white shorts for me, since over the winter I took up tennis again. These will be great to hit the courts in.

And so many of us are somehow still showing up at the gym since our New Year’s resolutions. If you are feeling the need for a little incentive try buying yourself a new groovy bag to put your things in, that should keep you going for at least another month.

And though I truly have no more room in my closet for new shoes, they are a must. If your budget will not allow for a lot of new things, I always find a great new pair of shoes will draw the eye off of the clothes you may be recycling from last year and make everything fresher.

Sometimes all we need is a little pick me up to accentuate our wardrobe but don’t know quite what it is. Well if you can’t use another bow-tie or pocket square you can never go wrong with another pair of colorful, conversation starting socks.